(Photo By: Getty Images/Christian Petersen)
Written By: Matt Di Domenico
Twitter: @didomenicomatt5
LinkedIn: Matt Di Domenico | LinkedIn
Upsets again hit the NFL world in week #10. It has started to make everyone wonder what is going on. But there were a few teams that have still stuck strongly to their core and are still winning at a high level. Some players and teams that did not play well last week were able to bounce back as well. Below are the 3 winners and 3 losers for week #10 in the NFL.
Losers:
1. QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
After returning from a middle finger injury that required surgery, Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson made his return in week 10 against the Green Bay Packers. Wilson however did not play up to expectations. Sure, his finger is probably not fully recovered, but not being able to score any points certainly was not a good look for this Seahawks team. Wilson went 20 for 40 with 161 passing yards and had 2 INTs. The Seahawks really needed this win to keep their playoff hopes alive because they now fall to a record of 3-6. Seattle also has really tough sledding down the stretch of the season. Next week, Wilson will have to bounce back against the Arizona Cardinals, or else their season could be all but wrapped up.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When the early window began, many people thought that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would win this game against the Washington Football Team. Tampa Bay was just a mess in this game on both sides of the football. Tom Brady did not have his best day when he went 23 for 34 with 220 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs. Clearly, Brady was very frustrated with his performance because post-game he only held a 2-minute press conference. On the defensive side of the ball, Tampa Bay gave up 29 points to a Taylor Heinicke lead offense. The defense failed to close the game on a 4th and short situation where RB Antonio Gibson ran in for the dagger. Obviously, Tampa should bounce back, and they are sitting at a record of 6-3 heading into week 11 against the New York Giants.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Yes, I know what you are thinking. This game ended in a tie. How can the Pittsburgh Steelers be on this list when they did not even lose? Well, flat out because this tie can either hurt or help the Steelers when it comes to getting into the playoffs. The Steelers were without QB Ben Roethlisberger due to Covid-19. This game was still a huge mess for the Steelers with going against the worst team in the league in the Detroit Lions. The Steelers still should have found a way to win this game and it shows me that they are not a contender if they do somehow get into the playoffs. Nobody likes ties, and next for the Steelers are the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football.
Winners:
1. QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
I was so close, to putting the Kansas City Chiefs TE in Travis Kelce at the #1 spot this week because of how much he helped/opened things up for this Chiefs offense. That effort by Kelce should not go unnoticed against this Las Vegas Raiders team, but how QB Patrick Mahomes was able to just make plays happen in this big game was the reason why the Chiefs walked away with the W. Mahomes had a huge day when going 35 for 50 with 406 passing yards and had 5 TDs. The Chiefs certainly look to be back and Mahomes looks like he has gotten out of his funk of bad play. Mahomes, Kelce, and the rest of the Chiefs will take on the Dallas Cowboys next week.
2. QB Mac Jones, New England Patriots
How can you not like what this rookie QB for the New England Patriots has been doing? Mac Jones has looked really good over the last couple of weeks for the Patriots. Jones had a pretty good day against the Cleveland Browns when he went 19 for 23 for 198 passing yards and had 3 TDs. Jones is doing everything the Patriots are asking him to do. Not to compare, but Jones' playstyle looks very similar to when Tom Brady first started with the Patriots. Jones makes the smart plays and utilizes the RBs in the passing game. Jones and the Patriots will be on Thursday night in week 11 so it will be interesting to see if they can keep it up.
3. Green Bay Packers Defense
What this Green Bay Packers defense has been doing for this Packers team is scary for the rest of the league. The Packers have a top-five defense for the first time since 2010 where they ended the year winning the Super Bowl. On Sunday, the Packers defense was able to pitch a shutout against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. Sure, Wilson was coming back for the first time since his finger injury, but it is still very challenging to hold a QB of his standard to 0 points. Keep in mind, the Packers are playing this level of defense without arguably their two best defensive players in CB Jaire Alexander and OLB Za’Darius Smith. When those two return to this defense, their play could rise even higher. The Packers will take on the Minnesota Vikings next week